Texas Baptist men at their best during nature's worst

Trained volunteers from Amarillo and across Texas respond to disasters around the world, helping people clean up and restore their lives.

This past week a group of 10 men, mostly from Paramount Baptist Church, wielded chain saws and other tools as they helped residents of Oklahoma City, Okla., recover from recent ice storms that knocked out power for thousands of people.

"I feel like I'm called from the Lord to do this. Every time the phone rings I feel like it's the Lord telling me to go," said Billy Gilmore, who led the group from Amarillo.

This is the second time this year the local team has dispatched to Oklahoma City after an ice storm, the last being in January. It's the 20th time the team has been called out this year and the 60th since the team formed in 2003.

The team went out of the country twice in 2007, once to Nicaragua to help clean up after a hurricane, and once to Greece to help after wildfires.

"We've been busier this year than other years," said Joe Henard, who is the area director for the Panhandle and West Texas.

Henard said the 10-member team that spent the last week in Oklahoma City included volunteers from Canyon, Pampa and Albuquerque, N.M., in addition to those from Paramount Baptist.

"We just got back from California, cutting trees from all the fires out there," Henard said.

Gary Smith, the state volunteer coordinator for disaster relief, said the Amarillo team was one of four sent to Oklahoma. Other teams came from East Texas, North Dallas and San Antonio.

"They're experienced," Smith said. "Most of them were out there in January of this year when they had that big ice storm."

He said Texas Baptist Men formed in 1967 following a hurricane when a group of men and boys volunteered to help with the recovery effort.

"Today we have about 7,000 trained volunteers throughout Texas," Smith said.

He said Texas Baptist Men provide a variety of services. They help clean up after disasters, clear mud and debris, remove downed limbs and such. They also provide temporary, licensed child care, portable shower and laundry facilities, security, communications and food services.

"We can serve 40,000 meals a day in one unit," Smith said.

Most of the volunteers are retirees.

"I enjoy helping other people," said Troy Harris, a member of the Amarillo team who is a retired agriculture teacher.

Henard, who is a retiree from Pantex, said he sees this as his calling. He said the Bible directs Christians to do good works, but to also speak to people about Jesus.

"We consider ourselves missionaries," he said. "We'll take time out to talk to people about Jesus as the opportunity is available. We'll help anybody of any religion, any person. We do not limit it to Baptists. This is our way of going and serving Jesus."

Gilmore, who is retired after 32 years with the railroad, said going out to serve is a blessing.

"It's not the blessing I give, it's the blessing I receive," he said.

The Amarillo team has three trailers it keeps at Paramount Baptist Church.

The largest of the three is for mud-out duty. The next one is for chain saws and like equipment. The third is for hauling other gear.

Henard said the team goes out to serve and does the best it can to not be a burden to the hosts. He said they bring their own bedding and usually sleep in churches and homes of church members.